Buyer's remorse before you buy

 Sounds like your stuck in analysis paralysis.  that can happen.  Key to find a non-biased WL surgeon.  Meaning a surgeon who is accomplished in all the WLS, not just 1.

Im not really sure what an athletic body type has to do with the type of surgery.  I think it has more to do with your health issues and commitment.

I will say that I was nearly at goal with my band BEFORE I was at restriction.  I just ate the Band Way (meaning just because you can doesn't mean you should).  I used that time to get my eating habits solid and ate they way bandsters needs to (small bites, small portion, lots of protein, chew to mush, don't drink calories, avoid carbonation).

Getting WLS is bound to be emotional.  For me, I felt like I was saying goodbye to my best friend.  Has your doctor scheduled you see a nutritionist and phych eval?  

The band is the most flexible option out there. I am very happy with my choice 2 yrs out.

Lesliee I saw on another post where they were talking about you and mentioned your website. I am just kind of wondering why if your so happy with your choice that you don't mention anything about the band on it???

 mmm not sure what site you are referring to,  I don't have a website - I did start a blog when I was training for competition and that focused on my training.  I have done work for Allergan and recently featured on a TV program for lapband - so I am very very open about the procedure

go to wfsb.com ---> Health ---> Advancing Medicine ---> goto video secion (right side middle) I am featured in part 1 and mostly in part 2.  Not sure how much more open I can get! 

 I just read my bodyproud post and no i didn't mention lapband.  I wrote that in Jan 2010.  As with the many changes our body and emotions go through, I wasn't at a place where I felt comfortable that I would be accepted as a true accomplished weight loss individual if I used a medical device to accomplish that goal. So, yes, I left it out - thinking I would gain more acceptance from people.  In 2010 I became more comfortable and confident in my decision and am a proponent for WLS for many people.  

Im sure many people who have had WLS still don't tell people that did it.  Its a very personal decision.

Leslee --- I am like you, in that I started to 'eat like a bandster' before I even think I had restriction.

I always imagined the band inside of me as 'more restriction than no band' -- and then with every fill, I imagined that it was tighter than the day before, and I was able to diet and eat sensibly on the day before, so it should be easier now with more fill.

I was so ready to change my life that I did not really expect the band to give me some magical thing called 'restriction' ---- I just ate less, and I found out that 'less was enough'.

I have to be honest and say that as American's we are completely 'overserved' and our bodies are used to way more food than we really need. 

Once I embraced the idea of a tool inside of me to control my portions, I ate small amounts, telling myself that if I was truly hungry in 30 minutes, I could have more -- but the truth is that I never was truly hungry in 30 minutes -- so I did not need more.

Those band rules got me to my goal, and are working to keep me there.

 Totally agree with you.

Kath and Leslee,

That is what I have been doing with my band exactly how you all described it .  The band reminds me of what I cant and can do and I just follow them rules and its working and I do stay full it is amazing how little food you can eat and you are satisfied.

I have been trying to explain this in my support group meeting because nobody can understand why I have went so long without fills and I try to explain it but you girls explained it very well .

I dont get much support from them because they keep telling me since I got the band I need to go get fills , and when I get fills I shouldn't be able to eat this , or this or that .

And sometimes the other doc the sidekick of my main doc I think she gets frustrated also that she hasn't given me any fills even my NUT jumped down me the last time I saw her :o(   My main doc though thinks Im doing great and he is the one I need to please .

Since my support group meeting this past Monday now I have been second guessing myself on what I'm doing because everybody tells me I'm doing it wrong its not the band way :o( 

 I went through all of the opinions and picked RNY.  I lost the weight quickly and easily, feel great and at four years out seem to be able to eat everything I please.  I don't dump anymore and don't regain any weight.   So glad that I no longer have to diet, do excessive exercise or worry about sugar, fat, carbs or calories.  The surgery was much easier and better than I expected.  I have never been hungry again, love wearing size 4, have tons of energy and look great.

Mmmmk....first off, there are FOUR wls currently available in the U.S., not three. We have the band, RNY, Sleeve, and the DS (and several variations of those).  Personally, I cannot recommend that anyone get a band.  What I would do, in your shoes, is make a pro's and con's list for each surgery.  In order to do that, though, you'll have to have accurate facts.  Depending on your BMI, you may not be a suitable candidate for the band anyway.  When my band was functioning properly, it was nothing short of a pain in the ass.  You constantly have to go to the doctor to get fills and unfills.  It was a two hour drive (one way) for me to do that.  Plus, those fills aren't cheap.  Especially when you have a fill, and then two days later have to PAY to go get an unfill!  If it were me, I'd listen to my husband and pay for the sleeve.  It's a much more permanent solution to MO, IMHO.

I would not have any surgery done, until I was 100% sure.  Any surgery is major.